Nestable-stackable container



June 19, 1962 J, wlLso 3,039,643

NESTABLE-STACKABLE CONTAINER Filed June 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F ,1 F g.3

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Jkmef D. 1407x011" June 19, 1962 J. D. WILSON NESTABLESTACKABLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 16, 1961 3,939,643 Patented June 19, 1962 ice 3,039,643 NESTABLESTACKABLE CGNTAEIER James D. Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Banner Metals, ind, Compton, Califi, a corporation of (thin Filed June 16, 1961, Ser. No. mates 5 Claims. (U. flit-19) The present invention relates to containers which are capable of being stacked upon one another or of being telescopically inserted into each other. The containers of the invention, for example, may be stacked upon one another when filled with a material in such a manner that an upper container and its load do not rest on the material-in a lower container. Then, when the containers are empty, they can be inserted into one another in a nested relationship so as to conserve space in the return shipment or storage of the empty containers.

This application is a continuation in part of copending application Serial No. 831,107, filed August 3, 1959, now abandoned.

The containers of the present invention are particularly suited for the transport of eggs in cardboard egg cartons, and the containers will be described in conjunction with such a use. It will become apparent as the description proceeds, however, that the containers of the present invention are not necessarily limited to such a use, but may find general application whenever a rugged container is desired, and one which may easily and conveniently either be stacked with similar containers or nested within such similar containers.

It is the present practice in the egg industry for the eggs gathered at the different ranches to be loaded into cartons which are usually termed filler-flats. These filler-flats are configured cardboard containers having open tops and a plurality of individual pockets for receiving the eggs. The filler flats usually have a rectangular configuration, and each may hold several dozen eggs.

A first use for containers of the present invention in the egg industry is for the transport of eggs from the different ranches to the processing plants. The containers of the invention are constructed to have a rectangular configuration with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the filler-flats. Then, as the eggs are gathered at each ranch, a stack of filler-flats is placed in each container for the convenient transport of the eggs to the processing plants. The dimensions of the container are such that the stack of filler-flats is supported in each container in such a manner that the filler-flats are securely held and do not have a tendency to move within the container. The eggs in the filler-flats are then removed from the containers at the processing plant, and the containers may be then nested within one another and returned to the ranches.

After the eggs have been removed from the containers in the processing plant they are cleaned, graded, candied and then placed in the usual retail-dozen cartons. These cartons usually have the same lengths as the filler-flats, and several of the cartons placed side by side have the same overall dimensions as a filler-flat.

The retail-dozen cartons may now be loaded into the containers of the invention for transport to the retail stores. When the containers arrive at the retail stores they may 'be placed directly in refrigerated display cabinets. The individual containers may be positioned in the display cabinets in an inclined position for ready access and display of the retail-dozen cartons. The customer now need merely to reach into the container and remove a carton of eggs when a purchase is made.

The empty containers of the invention may then be removed from the display cabinet and nested within similar containers and returned to the processing plant.

Again, space is conserved on the return trip by nesting the containers Within one another. By use of the containers of the present invention in the particular application described above enables eggs to be moved from the processing plant to the actual point of sale without any special handling equipment and without any need to unload or otherwise handle the individual retail-dozen cartons.

In order that the containers of the invention may find such utility, as described above, and so that the containers or" the invention may be put to related uses, the containers have been constructed to have certain specific inherent features.

One of the features of the containers of the invention is that they are constructed with vertical, rather than flared sides. This is contrary to most prior art nesting-stacking containers which have flared sides for nesting purposes. However, it is important that the sides of the containers be vertical, rather than flared, especially when the containers are used for the transport of fragile objects, such as eggs. This is so that each carton in a stack of cartons held in the individual containers will be so held in positive engagement with the sides of the container. When such is the case, there is no possibility of lateral shifting of the individual cartons in the containers with resulting rattling and possible breakage of the contents of the cartons.

Another important feature is the provision of a container having a solid pan-like bottom member and wire-formed sides; the bottom member having grooved rims for receiving the upper rim of a like lower container when the containers are in a stacked condition. This rim engagement provides a positive mating relationship between the containers of the invention when they are stacked on top of one another, and it prevents the individual containers from accidentally sliding or slipping with respect to one another.

The drawn sheet metal pan-like bottom member of the embodiments of the invention to be described is formed with upstanding elongated beads. These beads not only serve to strengthen the bottom member, but they are also formed to project, with the end rims of the bottom member, upwardly into the recesses of one usual type of retail dozen-egg cartons and filler-flats to enable the same to be supported without strain on the bottom member; and these beads and the end rims serve to support the second usual type of cartons essentially in the plane of the top of the end rims and beads of the bottom member in positive engagement with the side members, and in such a manner that the eggs, or other fragile objects, carried in the cartons, are supported up and out of contact with the surface of the bottom member itself.

The containers of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, with their pan-like bottom members referred to above, are also advantageous in that they may be easily transported on existing roller-type or skate-wheel conveyors.

In brief, therefore, the invention provides a rugged and inexpensive container which is especially suited for the handling of fragile objects, such as eggs. These fragile objects may be supported in individual cartons Which are held in a firm stacked relationship in the individual containers of the invention. The containers of the invention are capable of being conveniently stacked into a rigid and stable stack of similar containers, or of being nested within similar containers.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stackable-nestable container constructed in accordance with the concepts of one embodiment of the invention, this particular view illustrating the wire formed side members of the conaesae is tainer and the solid sheet metal pan-like bottom member;

FIGURE 2. is a sectional view substantially on the line ?.2 of the container of FIGURE 1, the sectional view illustrating the beaded configuration of the pan-like bottom member of the container;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a plurality of containers, similar to the container of FIGURE 1, and illustrating the manner in which the containers of the plurality may be rigidly and securely stacked upon one another;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a pair of containers, similar to the container of FIGURE 1, and illustrating the manner in which the containers may be nested within one another;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a stackable-nestable container constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view, substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 5 and showing the manner in which movable bails are mounted on the container of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container, similar to the containers of FIGURES 1 and 5, and showing the manner in which one type of egg box may be supported therein; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container, similar to the containers of FIGURES l and 5, and showing the manner in which a second type of egg box may be supported therein.

The nestable-stackable container of FIGURE 1 is designated generally as It). This container has a bottom member 12 which, in the illustrated embodiment, has a pan-like configuration and is formed of sheet metal. The bottom member 12 has a pair of rims 14 and 16 at its respective sides. These rims extend upwardly and outwardly from the plane of the bottom member to be disposed in a plane which is essentially parallel to the plane of the bottom member. The pan-like bottom member 12 also has a pair of end rims 18 and 20' which are similarly disposed to the end rims I4 and 16. This results in the bottom member having the shape of a shallow, generally rectangular pan, of which the side rims 14 and 16 are slightly longer than the end rims l8 and 20.

A pair of elongated beads 22 and 24 are formed in the bottom member 12. These beads extend upwardly from the plane of the bottom member, and slightly beyond the plane of the top surfaces of the rims 14, 16, 18 and 20. As illustrated, the beads 22 and 24 extend lengthwise of the bottom member 112 in parallel relationship with one another. A first slot 26 is formed at the center of the end rim 18, and a similar slot 23 is formed at the center of the end rim 2%.

The container also has a group of four wire-formed side walls. These side walls are each composed of wirelike elongated members which extend upwardly from the bottom member 12 in a plane disposed perpendicular to the bottom, and which are inclined towards one another in that plane, in the illustrated embodiment. For example, a first side wall is made up of a plurality of wire-like members 30, and a second side wall is made up of a plurality of wire-like members 32. Likewise, a third side wall is made up of a plurality of wire-like members 34. Likewise, a fourth side wall is made up of a plurality of wire-like members 36. As noted above, even though the individual wire-like members are inclined, the actual planes of the respective side walls are essentially perpendicular to the plane of the bottom member 12. This, as discussed above, permits a stack of cartons to be rigidly held without lateral movement in the container, as is not the case when the side walls are flared.

The container includes a bottom frame 38 which may be formed of a single wire-type member. The bottom frame 38, as shown in FIGURE 1 and by the fragmentary representation of FIGURE 7, is in uni-planar relationship with the top surfaces of the beads 22 and 24.

The bottom frame 38 has a rectangular configuration, and it may be welded, or otherwise secured to the end and side rims of the bottom member 12. The upwardly extending wire-type members 30, 32, 34 and 36 are welded, or otherwise attached, at their lower ends to the bottom frame 38.

The container also includes an intermediate frame 46. This intermediate frame may likewise to composed of a single Wire-type member, and it has a rectangular configuration. The intermediate frame 40 is displaced from the tops of the individual wire-like members 30, 32, 34 and 36 which make up the side walls of the container, and it is positioned to embrace those members. The intermediate frame 40 may be welded or otherwise attached to the wire-type members 30, 32, 34 and 36. The intermediate frame 40 has a configuration to provide a pair of upwardly extending loops 42 and 44 at opposite, sides of the container.

The container 10 also includes a top frame 46. This top frame also may be composed of a single wire-type member, and it also has a rectangular configuration. The top frame 46 is welded, or otherwise attached, to the tops of the wire-type members 30', 32, 34 and 36. A pair of the wire-like members 34 is formed into an end loop 48, and a pair of the wire-like members 36 is formed into an end loop 50. The loops 48 and 50 extend upwardly from the top frame 46.

When the container described above is used, for example, for the transport of egg cartons, such cartons are placed in a stack in the container. The vertical configuration of the side members of the container permits the stack to be rigidly held within the container, as mentioned above. Also, the lowermost carton rests on the beads 22 and 24 and on the top surfaces of the rims l4, l6, l8 and 20 and in firm engagement with the wireformed side members of the container. Also, as mentioned above, the beads 22 and 24 are positioned to engage the grooves of the usual cartons, so that the lowermost carton is firmly held in position in the container.

The representation of FIGURE 3 illustrates, as noted, a plurality of containers similar to the container 10 of FIGURE 1, the plurality of FIGURE 3 being designated as 10a, 1% and 100, for example, and being disposed in a stacked relationship. The containers of FIGURE 3 each are similar to the container of FIGURE 1, as noted, and like components are designated by the same numerals, and with an additional a, b, or 0 identifying letter.

As illuustrated, when the container 10a is stacked over the container 1%, the end rims, such as the end rim 16a of its bottom member 12a, extend over the top frame 46b of the lower container 10b. This engagement of the end rims of the bottom member of the upper container 10a with the top frame of the lower container 1012 enables the two containers to be firmly stacked on top of one another and without any tendency for lateral movement in an endwise direction with respect to one another.

In addition, the upstanding loops, such as the loop 48b of the container 10b, extend through the respective slots, such as the slot 28a in the bottom member of the container 12a. This loop-slot engagement firmly retains the stacked containers on top of one another, and prevents side movement of the containers. In this manner, the containers, such as the containers 1%, 10b and 1100 may be rigidly stacked on top of one another, and this is achieved merely by progressively angularly disiplacing the containers in the stack through The containers 1% and 1012 are shown in nested relationship in FIGURE 4. As mentioned above, it is merely necessary to cause the containers to be angularly aligned to enable them to be nested in each other. For that purpose, the length and width of the top frame 46 of the container are made slightly larger than the respective outer length and outer width of the bottom member 12. Then, when the containers are angularly aligned with one another, the bottom member 12a of the container 10a is able to slide down into the interior of the container b. As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the wire-formed side members, such as the side members 3612 form guides for the corresponding wire-formed side members, such as the side members 36a, with the respective side members of the two containers nesting within one another as the containers themselves are nested.

The container 10a is nested down into the container 10b, until its intermediate frame 40a engages the top frame 46b of the container 10b. The upstanding loop 50b of the container 10b is engaged by the corresponding loop 42a of the container 10b. In this manner, suc cessive containers may be nested within one another with the top frame member in each instance engaging the intermediate frame member of the next upper container.

The embodiment of the invention of FIGURE 5 is generally similar to the embodiment described above, except that stacking and nesting of the latter type of container is accomplished by means of a pair of movable bails 100 which are pivotally mounted on the upper frame 102 of the container (FIGURE 6).

The internal width and length of the upper frame 192 are made respectively a little larger than the corresponding dimensions of the pan-like bottom 106. This permits an upper container to be nested into a lower container when the bails 100 are turned back out of the path of the upper container. The two containers will then nest with their wire-like sides assuming the same relation as in the previous embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 4.

When the containers of the second embodiment are to be stacked, the bails 100 are turned into the path of an upper container and they serve to engage the rim of the bottom of the upper container. As in the previous embodiment, a positive support is provided when the containers are stacked as the rim of the bottom of an upper container fits down into the upper frame of a lower container.

As mentioned above, the wire-formed non-flared sides of the containers described herein permit the containers to support egg cartons without lateral shifting of the cartons in the containers, as is most important.

Also, and as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the two usual types of egg cartons are firmly supported by the particular bottom construction of the containers of the invention.

For example, the first usual type of carton, as shown in FIGURE 8, is supported on the actual base of the bottom 12 or 106, with the beads and end rims of the bottom member projecting up into the notches formed in that type of carton and around the ends thereof.

Likewise, the second usual type of carton is supported on the beads and end rims of the bottom member 12 or 106 as shown in FIGURE 7, in positive supported relationship with the sides of the container.

The invention provides, therefore, a rugged stackablenestable container which is especially suited for the transport of fragile objects, in the described manner, but which has general application.

The container of the present invention is advantageous in that it is capable of transporting a stack of cartons without lateral shifting of the cartons in the stack due to the non-flared, vertical configuration of the side walls. The bottom member of the container of the invention has a solid pan construction for the reasons described, and it is configured for the appropriate support of the usual types of cartons. The containers constructed in accordance with the invention may be stacked or nested by means of a simple manipulating operation. When stacked the containers of the invention are held in a firm engaged relationship to constiute a stable stack.

I claim:

1. A generally rectangular container for use with other like containers which may be stacked on top of one another when full and which may be nested within one another when empty, said container including: a rectangular pan-like bottom member having rims at the respective ends and sides thereof forming grooves at the underside of said bottom member extending around the periphery thereof, and said rims at the ends of said bottom member having respective slots formed therein, a plurality of wire-formed side walls secured to said bottom member and extending perpendicular upwardly therefrom in respective vertical planes when said bottom member is disposed in a horizontal plane, a top frame formed of a wire-like member secured to the side walls and having a rectangular configuration, said top frame having a width less than the length of said bottom member to receive and support the grooves at the ends of the bottom member of a like second container when the second container has an angular position displaced ninety degrees from that of the first-mentioned container to permit the second container to be stacked on the first-mentioned container, a pair of projecting members extending upwardly from said top frame at ninety degree angular displacements from said slots in said bottom member to extend through like slots in the bottom member of the second like container to assist in preventing relative lateral movement between the containers when the second container is stacked on top of the first-mentioned container at a ninety degree angular displacement with respect thereto, said side walls including a plurality of upwardly extending wire-like members disposed in respective ones of said vertical planes in converging relationship and adapted to nest with corresponding wire-like members of the second container when the second container is nested within the first-mentioned container, and said top frame having a length and width respectively greater than the length and width of the bottom member to permit the second container to be nested in the first-mentioned container when the containers have the same angular orientation with said converging wire-like members of the side walls of the second container being disposed in side-by-side relationship with corresponding ones of the wire-like members of the side walls of the first-mentioned container.

2. The container defined in claim 1 and in which the bottom member is composed of a sheet metal pan.

3. The container defined in claim 1 which includes a bottom frame member disposed on said rims of said bottom member and extending around the periphery thereof and in which the bottom member is composed of a sheet metal pan having a plurality of upstanding elongated beads formed therein with top surfaces in uniplanar relationship with the top surfaces of said bottom frame member.

4. A generally rectangular container for use with other like containers which may be stacked on top of one another when full and which may be nested within one another when empty, said container including: a rectangular bottom member composed of a sheet metal pan having a plurality of upstanding elongated beads formed therein in spaced and parallel relationship, a frame secured to and extending at least partially around said bottom member and having a top surface in uni-planar relationship with the top surfaces of said beads, a plurality of wireformed side walls rigid with said bottom member disposed outwardly of said frame and extending upwardly in perpendicular relationship with the plane of said bottom member, said side walls each including a plurality of upwardly extending converging wire-like members adapted to telescope with corresponding wire-like members of the sides of a second container when the containers are in nested relationship; a rectangular top frame assembly formed of at least one wire-like member and secured to the upper ends of said side walls, said top frame assembly including stacking means for receiving the underside of the bottom member of a like second container to support such second container in stacked relationship when said stacking means and said bottom member of said like container have a particular orientation with respect to one another, and said top frame assembly including means for 7 preventing relative lateral movement between the stacked containers and having a length and width respectively greater than the length and width of the pan-like bottom member to permit nesting of the containers when said bottom member has a particular orientation with respect to said top frame assembly.

5. A generally rectangular container for use with other like containers which may be stacked on top of one another when full and which may be nested within one another when empty, said container including: a rectangular sheet-metal pan-like bottom member having rims at the respective ends thereof and a peripheral groove at the underside thereof extending around the periphery thereof, a bottom frame disposed on said rims and extending around the periphery of said bottom member, said bottom member further having a plurality of upstanding e1on gated beads formed therein with top surfaces in uniplanar relationship with the top surfaces of said bottom frame, a plurality of wire-formed side walls rigid with said bottom member disposed outwardly of said bottom frame and extending vertically upwardly therefrom in respective vertical planes when said bottom member is disposed in a horizontal plane, said side walls each including a plurality of upwardly extending converging wire-like members adapted to telescope with corresponding wire-like members of a second container when the containers are in nested relationship, and a rectangular top frame assembly formed of at least one wire-like member secured to the upper ends of said side walls and including means receivable in the peripheral groove in the underside of the bottom member of a like second container to support such second container in a stacked relationship and in a manner to prevent relative lateral movement between the containers, and said top frame assembly having a length and width respectively greater than the length and width of the pan-like bottom member to permit nesting of the containers.

References tliteel in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 875,549 Mitchell Dec. 31, 1907 2,064,518 Brogden Dec. 15, 1936 2,252,964 Faulkner Aug. 19, 1941 2,401,063 Fordon May 28, '1946 2,554,232 Young May 22, 1951 2,599,727 Schmidt June 10, 1952 2,613,839 Coles Oct. 14, 1952 2,662,662 Moorhead Dec. 15, 1953 2,698,249 Fischer Dec. 28, 1954 2,803,369 Fleetwood Aug. 20, 1957 2,925,919 Wilson Feb. 23, 1960 2,931,535 Lockwood Apr. 5, 1960 2,964,211 Pfeffer Dec. 13, 1960 

